COMMUNITIES in Craven are being urged to get together to form 'oil co-operatives' in a bid to beat the winter blues – and the rising cost of living.

Charity Rural Action Yorkshire has started a campaign to highlight the benefits of villages banding together to buy fuel as colder weather approaches.

Living in rural, often isolated, communities can mean higher fuel prices, and a higher overall cost of living, the charity's chiefs maintain.

But heating homes can be made significantly cheaper by banding together to increase purchasing power, says Rural Action Yorkshire.

Rural Action Yorkshire chief officer, Leah Swain, said: "The campaign is not only about providing inspiration to communities but also about practical advice and solutions.

“We face a cost of living crisis alongside growing public cuts, and where communities have found ways of dealing with this, it is important to share this knowledge with others."

She added when considered alongside the fuel and running costs saved by reducing the amount of trips needed to deliver the oil, and on the carbon emissions this also saves, the economic and environmental return is a lot higher.

The oil co-operatives drive is part of the charity's '52 (Almost) Painless Things Your Community Can Do' campaign, which was launched earlier this year.

It aims to provide a 'one-stop shop' of ideas and tips on ways in which rural communities can work together.

Contact Rural Action Yorkshire on 0845 3130270 for more details.